Culture
A Book That Celebrates the Enduring Charm of Soviet-Era Bus Stops
Christopher Herwig snapped incredible photos of Eastern Europe and Central Asia’s architectural underdogs.
When Christopher Herwig took off on his bike from London to St. Petersburg in 2002, he promised himself he’d take at least one interesting photo every hour. By the time he reached Lithuania, one type of structure kept standing out: old, Soviet-era bus stops. ”The first bus stop that made me really notice that something was going on was in Marijampole, outside Kaunas,” notes Herwig. “It was so perfect, like a doll house: cute, classic, simple, and inspirational.”
With the initial trip and photo project a success, Herwig decided to keep returning to Eastern Europe. The photographer has since captured old bus stops in 13 countries and the disputed region of Abkhazia, all formerly belonging to the U.S.S.R. Now, the entire project is in a book.